I went to high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I am one of a handful of graduates from my class to go to college, let alone leave the state.
I never wanted to leave, I wanted to stay home and do drugs with my buddies.
I got my first camera when I turned 16. I started taking pictures of my friends which is how this project was conceived.
Due to the encouragement from my high school photography teacher and the fear I felt when people around me started dying, I left and went to college. I realize now I was really just running away.
Mine is not a unique story and I think I deserve a lot worse than I got.